DUP MP Gavin Robinson says he does not regret voting for an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill in Westminster as the rest of his party colleagues abstained.
The East Belfast MP was among 502 MPs who on Wednesday night backed an amendment from Labour's Yvette Cooper which gives a commitment to let the House of Commons vote on delaying Brexit if both Theresa May's withdrawal deal and no-deal are rejected.
The government supported the amendment although a band of 20 Tory Brexiteers voted against. Nine of the DUP's 10 MPs abstained from the vote.
Mr Robinson told The Irish News that he was "caught up in the carnival atmosphere" and voiced his support for an amendment in order to avoid having to vote in the lobbies.
He said due to a principle where MPs must 'follow voice with vote' he was therefore "honour bound" to vote for the amendment when MPs divided and entered the lobbies.
The East Belfast MP voted 'aye' alongside North Down independent unionist Lady Sylvia Hermon, Labour's Hilary Benn and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford.
Mr Robinson told The Irish News he did not regret his actions and that it was not a mistake.
"The amendment follows what the prime minister articulated and that is the direction of travel of this process anyway, so that's going to happen," he said
"I therefore have no difficulty in supporting the amendment."
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